The Mall Luton has today announced that Inanna from Radlett has been crowned Luton’s winner of the Make Your Mark in Retail competition, sponsored by NatWest, and is through to the national finals that will see one winner awarded with a business start-up prize worth more than £15,000.
Inanna, a soap and jewellery business run by Mohammad Malkawi, was selected as a result of its indisputable attention to customer care, high sales figures, growth aspirations and strong passion for their product - Syrian soap and jewellery. Less than a year ago Mohammed found the beautiful Syrian soap in France that he was unable to find for sale anywhere in the UK, so he travelled to Aleppo, Syria to see if he could import it directly. He arrived back with authentic olive and laurel soap, plus samples of beautiful jewellery that he had found locally and began trading as Inanna. Since then, he has sourced it, imported it, retailed it and has now earned himself the opportunity of a lifetime.
The brain behind the business is 32 year old Mohammad Malkawi from Radlett. He comments, “I’m delighted to have been selected as Luton’s winner, and am proud to be representing the town in this national contest. I’ve always wanted to launch my own business and this competition provided me with the ideal opportunity to give that dream a shot, and the good news is it seems to be going down well.”
The competition, which runs across 19 shopping centres nationwide, has really caught the imagination of the public with well over 120 entries made UK-wide.
Lavinia Holland, Marketing Manager at The Mall Luton comments: “This year we’ve seen some really strong applicants which has been a real pleasure and a positive sign for the future retail market. Now we’ve all got to get behind Inanna as they go for national glory; we’re keeping our fingers firmly crossed that in May they will prove victorious for Luton.”
NatWest, sponsors of the Make Your Mark in Retail competition, will be offering business support and banking advice to Inanna on account of winning the regional heat. Chris Harvey, Director of NatWest Branch Business Banking says, “This competition is a great opportunity for businesses and entrepreneurs to get their business idea underway or move it forward. We congratulate Mohammed on his achievement and wish him the best for the national judging. ”
Judging for the final winner of the Make Your Mark in Retail competition will take place on April 27th 2010.
NOTE TO EDITORS:
The competition enables entrants the opportunity to test their business on a Retail Merchandising Unit (RMU) and the outstanding candidate is rewarded with a ‘retail start up package’ that includes:
• Six months rent free trading on an RMU
• Hands on support from The Mall
• A business mentor from NatWest; a member of the Royal Bank of Scotland
• A place at the British Shops & Stores Association Summer School at Keble College Oxford
• A place at the National Skills Academy Retail Masterclass
The Mall is the UK’s leading community shopping centre Fund. Managed by Capital & Regional and Aviva Investors, The Mall Fund owns 17 shopping centres across the UK - home to 2,000 retail units and attracting approximately 3.3 million shopping visits every week.
www.themall.co.uk – Shopping as it should be…
This press release has been written and distributed by Flowing Ink. For more information contact Danielle Tarren at Danielle@flowingink.co.uk.
www.flowingink.co.uk
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